Best Premium Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

The Sony WH-1000XM4 have become a kind of gold standard for over-ear noise-canceling headphones. At a more than adequate price, Sony has found an almost ideal combination of sound quality, noise-canceling efficiency and functionality, which most competitors are still focusing on today. What can we say if they still do not fall out of the top sales, and many competitors advertise their new headphones in the style of "Sony XM4 killers".

One of the key features of the model is the adaptive sound control function with support for Smart Listening and Ambient Mode, which automatically adjusts the noise cancellation level depending on the environment. ANC works so effectively that you can comfortably listen to music in the XM4 on the subway, train, and plane. Support for LDAC codecs (in addition to AAC and SBC) and built-in DSP provide warm and detailed sound across the spectrum. Sony WH-1000XM4 are equally suitable for a variety of genres, be it instrumental music or electronics. Although, JBL fans may say that the bass is still not enough.

The average battery life is about 30 hours, and fast charging allows you to get up to 5 hours of listening in just 10 minutes of charging. Among the other advantages of the model, it is necessary to highlight the integration of Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants, NFC for quick pairing with a sound source, support for the Speak-to-Chat function, which pauses playback when the user starts talking. Thanks to this, the headphones do not have to be removed during a conversation. Of the disadvantages, one can only note the not very high level of comfort - among XM4 owners, there is a frequent complaint that the ear pads, although large, are not particularly comfortable and the ears quickly get tired and sweat in them in the heat. In this regard, the XM4 are inferior to the Sennheiser Momentum 4, B&W PX7 / PX8 and especially the Bose QuietComfort Ultra.

Not many series survive to the 3rd or 4th generation, and if this happens, it usually indicates high quality of the device and a serious credit of trust from users. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, if not 100%, then 95% confirm this thesis, being excellent wireless full-size headphones with impressive battery life, high-class dynamic drivers with an extended frequency spectrum (6 - 22000 Hz), low distortion (0.3%) and the signature sound of the German brand.

Compared to the Sony XM4, which have become a standard of quality for most people, Sennheiser, according to many owners, turned out to be more convenient. They also have top battery life - up to 60 hours on a single charge, while most competitors, including the XM4, hold a charge for 30, maximum 35 hours. The sound of Momentum 4 is much more neutral: the bass does not protrude too much, but breaks through perfectly when needed, the middle is clear and detailed, and the highs do not merge into mush in a very busy composition. The sound character is warmer and velvety than that of Sennheiser monitor models. But the adaptive noise cancellation system is inferior in effectiveness to ANC from Sony and Bose. Momentum 4 pass the test for a ride in a subway car with 3.5 points out of 5. Rather, they are suitable for listening to music while walking on the street or working in the office, etc.

Otherwise, these are moderately light and quite comfortable headphones with soft ear pads and rotating cups that fit comfortably to the ears, providing maximum comfort even with prolonged wear. The materials used in the design are of high quality and durable, and additional equipment includes support for voice assistants, excellent conversational microphones, flexible sound settings using a mobile application, as well as support for the aptX Adaptive codec and an autopause function. The only caveat is that the design has clearly been simplified compared to the Momentum M3.

B&W PX7 S2e is an updated version of the very popular and critically acclaimed wireless headphones B&W PX7. Like the B&W PX7, they are designed for use with portable equipment during trips and walks. S2e are made of lightweight but very durable materials, thanks to which they can withstand significant mechanical loads. Comfortable oval ear pads with memory effect and rotating cups completely cover the ears, sit securely on the head and do not put too much pressure on the ears.

The headphones feature an improved adaptive noise cancellation system ANC and proprietary carbon emitters with a diameter of 40 mm, support the auto-pause function, and their sound can be customized to the last detail in the B&W mobile app. Their sound quality is excellent, but the bass is not as pronounced as is customary these days. They are much more pleasant to listen to jazz, ambient or instrumental concerts than hip-hop, pop music and electronic music. The built-in active noise cancellation system, on the one hand, works quite softly and does not blur the sound, on the other hand, it does not dampen external noise as much as ANC from Sony and Bose, which is why they will probably not be such a good choice for a plane or train as the Sony WH-1000XM4 / XM5.

The B&W catalog has a more sophisticated model PX8 and it is also an excellent option for the role of universal Hi-Fi headphones. PX8 sound a little louder and cleaner than PX7 S2e, the casing is made of genuine leather, not leatherette, and the design is a little more interesting, although this is already a matter of taste. Otherwise, they have an almost identical active noise cancellation system, the same connection (Bluetooth 5.2 or cable) and the same battery for 30 hours of operation with support for fast charging. However, on a normal day, the B&W PX7 S2e is asked for almost 2 times less than the PX8. And they are regularly discounted, so the choice here rather depends on the available budget.

The Danes from the small and terribly authoritative audio brand Dali did not want to enter the headphone market for a long time, simply because they did not want to rush. They say it is better to release excellent headphones once than mediocre ones 7 times. In 2019, the fruit finally ripened and Dali released the Dali IO-6 wireless headphones, which are fully in line with modern trends: active noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD, a built-in battery for 30 hours of continuous operation, a USB C port through which you can stream music from a PC and Mac, plus much more. Judging by the number of awards in music magazines, Dali did not wait so long in vain: they sound just great, and the implementation of noise cancellation is so successful that sometimes it is not even clear whether it is on or off. But first things first.

Let's start with the most interesting, namely the signature Dali sound and complex speakers with cellulose-wood drivers. They captivate with their overall timbre richness, transparency in the upper mids and an abundance of details even at a low comfortable listening volume. Dali specialists apparently diligently worked on optimizing the chambers - by ear, there are no resonances in the "cups" or compression in the lows. On the contrary, there is some inevitable lightness, airiness in their presentation, the music seems to flow in them. The digital sharpening of the Dali IO-6 was somewhat surprising: when connected via cable, they always played a little less brightly and expressively than via USB C or Bluetooth with aptX HD. And the tonal balance shifted towards the upper-mid frequencies, losing the readability of the bass. And this is almost their only drawback. The second point is the demand for the sound source, but this is a feature of many Hi-Fi headphones.

Everything is no less great in terms of comfort. Dali spent hundreds of hours searching for the ideal shape that would fit snugly to the ears on one side to minimize the impact on the sound character, but would sit comfortably on the head. The solution to the problem was carefully selected ear pads, which are filled with “memory” foam and covered with pleasant to the touch leatherette. Other useful “little things” include conveniently made playback and volume controls, splash-proof housing (IP53 class), reinforced headband mounts and rotating earcups that allow you to quickly fold the headphones into a case and throw them into a backpack. When the guys from Dali said that they fiddled with the housing no less than with the speakers, you believe them. These are not just audiophile headphones that need to be blown off, but a robust model, perfectly suited for real life.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are a premium model with an extremely comfortable design and an excellent active noise cancellation system that effectively isolates external noise of any type, creating comfortable listening conditions even in the noisiest places, including the subway. What's especially great is that Bose regularly updates the firmware adding different settings for ANC, including adjusting the strength of your own voice and an equalizer for filtering high and low frequencies.

As is traditional for the QuietComfort series, the Ultra's sound never falls below its high bar. Rich bass, detailed mids and crystal clear highs are suitable for a wide range of musical genres - from classical and jazz to pop and heavy electronics. Compared to the reference Sony MX4, the low frequencies are more accentuated and well-defined, and the bass does not merge into mush if there is too much of it. The clarity and detail of the sound, although not ideal, is still impressive compared to most wireless headphones of this and higher price categories. The comfort of the model is also at its best. Although the ear pads do not look as large as those of the Sony MX4, there seems to be more free space inside them and the ears do not get tired even after 4-5 hours of constant wear.

Other useful features include an auto-pause system, Immersive Audio with head tracking, and voice assistant support. Battery life with ANC can reach 24 hours, and you can use fast charging if necessary. And the headphones themselves have a foldable design, rotating cups, and are protected from moisture according to the IPX4 standard. The only downside of the QuietComfort Ultra is not quite on the surface: there are regular reviews online that after a year and a half of use, the ear pads wear out noticeably and sometimes even tear, affecting both the convenience and the effectiveness of noise cancellation.